Founded in Nashville in 1894 by Orville Gibson, the Gibson guitar company marks its 130th anniversary this year. This milestone is particularly notable, as fewer than 1,000 companies in the United States have reached this age, representing less than half a percent of all businesses.
To commemorate this occasion, Gibson has unveiled a remarkable guitar, the 130th Anniversary J-45 Orville Artisan, hand-crafted in its Bozeman, Montana, acoustic guitar facility. This limited-edition instrument is expected to become a prized collector’s item.
For many years, Gibson’s acoustic guitar factory was located in Michigan. However, in 1987, the company acquired the Flatiron Mandolin Company in Bozeman and moved its domestic acoustic production from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Montana. In 2022, Gibson expanded its factory, situated in an industrial park on the northeast side of Bozeman.
The dry and stable climate in Bozeman is ideal for guitar construction, as extreme fluctuations in humidity and temperature can damage wooden instruments. The Bozeman facility employs approximately 300 people.
When Gibson labels a product as “limited-edition,” it truly means it for the J-45 Orville Artisan, with only 30 units available at a price of $11,999 each. The original J-45 was launched in 1942 and quickly became a staple in the music industry.
The anniversary guitar showcases numerous intricate details not present in the 1942 model, including elaborate mother-of-pearl and abalone inlays. Over 100 pieces of exquisite shell inlay embellish the fretboard and peghead, alongside other custom features celebrating the 130th anniversary.
